The head-to-head duel of world champions came to fruition at this year's Paris-Roubaix between Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), but after sparring in a lead group for almost 60 kilometres until Pogačar overshot a corner, lost his chain and hope of victory.
He got up and chased van der Poel all the way to the Roubaix velodrome but could only congratulate his special spring Classic rival on his third victory.
"He's a great champion and one of the best riders in the world. To race against him is a big honour," Pogačar said of the Dutchman.
"I always say, if I was a kid racing now, he would be my idol, so to race against him gives me some extra motivation."
Pogačar suffered during his aggressive debut at Paris-Roubaix, probably like never before and needed a special drink from his team car to stop cramps.
"You think it's an all-flat race but in terms of power I think it's the hardest race I've done in my life," he said post-race.
"Plus there was the cobble stress on your body. It was definitely one of the roughest, toughest, hardest races I did. But I think I gained some experience so that maybe next time I come here it's not so extreme."
The reigning World Champion fell on a right-hand bend on sector 9 with 38km to go. He appeared to follow a motorbike with too much speed and went onto the grass. He tried to put a foot down but then tumbled over his bike. His chain came off and then he panicked briefly, losing precious seconds to van der Poel.
The Dutchman initially waited but then powered on alone, with Pogačar soon cracking and accepting defeat. Van der Poel finished 1:18 ahead of Pogačar celebrating his third consecutive victory at Hell of the North.
"What I learned? That there is a right turn at 38 kilometres. I misjudged the turn," Pogačar said immediately after the finish.
"When you go full gas and motos are in front of you and they don't turn, you also think there's no turn. But I should know there's a corner, so no excuses."
Pogačar secured the remarkable result of podiums in all five Monuments. The only other rider to do that in recent years is Philippe Gilbert.
He also matched cycling legend Eddy Merckx with a unique achievement as a top result for a reigning Tour de France champion finishing Paris-Roubaix. Both finished second as current Tour champions, Merckx doing so exactly 50 years ago behind four-times winner Roger De Vlaeminck.
Pogačar was asked if he would return to try to win Paris-Roubaix.
"Can I win? I think so. I came second in my first participation, so I can also fight for the victory. Next year? Maybe. I don't know yet," Pogačar said.
"It was a great race from our team with second place and fifth place thanks to Florian Vermeersch. It was good to have two guys in the top five and I think we can come back next year with a strong team and be motivated to fight for the victory."
Pogačar and van der Poel are now tied with eight Monuments each on their palmares.
The Slovenian will again head home to Monte Carlo by private jet on Sunday night but is scheduled to ride next Sunday's Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Van der Poel will now take a break, their paths only crossing at the Tour de France in July when the Dutchman targets stages and Pogačar a fourth yellow jersey.
Their spring Classics duel ended with Pogačar winning Strade Bianche and the Tour of Flanders, while Van der Poel won Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.
"Don't be greedy. Enjoy what we have. We will also have other races," Pogačar said at a request for more duels with Van der Poel.
"He will go to other races and so will I. We'll find other competitors there and we can look forward to that as well."
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